Zichang is a county-level city in central Shaanxi Province in China. You may never have heard of this place before. Zichang played an important role in the Chinese revolutionary period. It has a special place in modern Chinese history. If you want to experience real red tourism in China, Zichang is a destination you should not miss.
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Basic Information of Zichang City
Zichang city is located in the central part of the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi. It is about 430 kilometres from Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province. It is 93 kilometres from Yan’an. Zichang is a county-level city under the administration of Yan’an. The total area is 2,405 square kilometres. The permanent population is about 212,500.
As an important part of Yan’an, Zichang city is a transport hub in northern Shaanxi. Provincial roads, railways and high speed rail lines pass through the city. Zichang also has rich natural and cultural resources.
Zichang has a long history. As early as 6,000 years ago, early people settled here and formed primitive villages. In 1252, during the period of Mongol rule in China, Anding Fort was upgraded to Anding County. This laid the foundation for the stable administrative structure of modern Zichang.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Anding County belonged to Yan’an Prefecture. Its name and administrative area stayed largely the same. This situation continued into the period of the Republic of China.
Revolutionary History of Zichang City
The most important turning point in the history of Zichang came during the red revolutionary period. In the 1930s, Zichang became a key base for the Chinese revolution. In August 1934, the Shaanxi Gansu Ningxia Border Region established by the Communist Party set up its first county level revolutionary government here. It was called the Anding County Revolutionary Committee. It was later renamed the Chiyuan County Soviet Government. This was the first county level Soviet government in northern Shaanxi.
In November 1935, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China moved into Wayaobu. This area is now the seat of the Zichang city government. This made Zichang the Red Capital of the Chinese revolution at that time. It was here that the Communist Party Central Committee held the famous Wayaobu Conference. The meeting set out the strategy of the national united front against Japanese aggression. It marked a new chapter in the Chinese revolution. It also laid an important foundation for the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japan and for victory on the China front of WWII.
What Does Zichang Mean?
From the earlier sections, it is clear that Zichang was called Anding during the period when it served as a Communist red base. The change of name is linked to a revolutionary martyr and general who was born here.
In 1942, the Shaanxi Gansu Ningxia Border Region government decided to rename Anding County as Zichang County. This was done in memory of the outstanding revolutionary martyr Xie Zichang. Xie Zichang was a native of Zichang. He was a well known military leader. He devoted his life to the Communist revolution in China. He led the people of northern Shaanxi in long and difficult armed struggles against reactionary forces. He made lasting contributions to the creation and growth of the revolutionary base areas in northern Shaanxi.
In 1934, during the first campaign by the Kuomintang against the Yan’an red base, he personally commanded troops in battle. He was seriously wounded after being shot. His condition worsened, and he died from his injuries in 1935 at the age of only 38. To honour his achievements, the Communist Party decided to rename Anding County as Zichang County. This became a lasting memorial for local people.
In July 2019, with approval from the State Council, Zichang County was abolished and Zichang City at county level was established. This marked a new stage in the development of Zichang.
Tourist Attractions in Zichang City
Zichang is a historic and cultural city in Shaanxi Province. It has 119 protected revolutionary heritage sites. These include nationally protected sites such as the Wayaobu Revolutionary Site and the Zhongshan Grottoes.
The Wayaobu Revolutionary Site is the most famous attraction in Zichang city. It is also the one you should not miss. Professional guides provide explanations in Chinese. They help visitors understand the full historical background. The site is spread out and complex. It is difficult to complete a full visit without a professional guide.
Zichang city also has other sites of great historical value, such as the Zhongshan Grottoes and Anding Old Town. The Zhongshan Grottoes were first built in the 4th century. They were expanded and improved over more than one thousand years. There are over ten thousand Buddhist statues in many different poses. Historians often call it the second Longmen Grottoes.
Anding Old Town is very different from other old towns in China. Many other old towns are filled with rebuilt traditional style buildings. They often focus on staged ethnic culture. Anding Old Town is a real old town. It is quiet and simple. It sits at the foot of hills where battles once took place between the Communist Party and the Kuomintang. You can see many well preserved buildings from the Qing dynasty. The residents are mostly middle aged and elderly people. Young people are rarely seen.
With support from the local government, the site managers have collected a large number of real daily items from the Ming and Qing dynasties. These items are displayed in an authentic Qing dynasty government building. Visitors can catch a glimpse of the true and unadorned China of the past.
How to Visit Zichang City
The most convenient way to reach Zichang city is to drive from Yan’an. The journey takes about one and a half hours. The recently opened Xi’an to Yan’an high speed railway has improved connections between Yan’an and major cities in China. This also makes travel to Zichang much easier for visitors.
Conclusion
Zichang is a city where you rarely see foreign tourists. It is a key place in the history of the Chinese revolution. If you want to experience real red tourism in China, you should visit Zichang.
Young Pioneer Tours provides the only tour that offers a complete English language service in Zichang and Yan’an region. YPT’s China Revolutionary Red Base Tour takes visitors to Zicahng and other places in the Yan’an region. It provides a full introduction to the history of the Chinese revolution.
Click to read more about YPT‘s China Revolutionary Red Base Tour and our other China tours.
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